25 Days of Christmas, Day 16: Cut Sugar Cookies

My Altrusa Christmas party last night was wonderful; there is just something especially nice about spending a relaxing evening with women you love and respect while dining on a meal that you didn't have to prepare. The beautiful Christmas decorations and chocolate fondue bar didn't hurt, either.

Speaking of Christmas decorations, do you know what every yard needs at Christmastime? A ginormous snowman, that's what.

 I must admit, with both kids being teenagers now (I just threw up in my mouth a little); I was convinced that our yard had seen its' last snowman so, you can imagine my delight when I came home from work to see this...

...not only were the Man-Cub and his friends working diligently on a snowman but, The Teenager's boyfriend was in on the action. Of course, being teenagers, they aimed high; planning the largest snowman that they could make. Unfortunately, they failed to take into account just how heavy a giant ball of snow can be and, getting the middle part of the snowman onto the base presented more of a challenge than they anticipated. It made for an entertaining show for The Teenager and me, however...

...and, after some discussion, a brilliant plan to build a snow ramp, allowing the boys to roll the snowball was born and ouila! A half-finished snowman!

Followed quickly by a totally finished snowman (if you ignore the fact that the boys could only locate one branch for the arms, leaving our snowman somewhat handicapped). Hot chocolate followed, I mean, obviously.

While the kids were putting the finishing touches on the snowman, I was baking our favorite holiday treat, cut sugar cookies. These cookies require a decorative touch but, for today, we will focus on the cookie recipe itself, frosting recipe to follow, tomorrow.

Cut Sugar Cookies

1 cup sugar
1 egg
1/2 cup margarine
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. baking soda
3 1/4 cups flour

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease baking sheets or line with parchment paper. Mix all ingredients together, adding flour a bit at a time. Roll dough onto floured surface and cut with cookie cutters.

Bake for 7-9 minutes or until just golden. Remove from oven and allow to cool on wire racks. Once cookies are cool, decorate as desired or, store in Ziplock bags or in freezer until ready to frost.

We plan to decorate our cookies, tomorrow because we do it as a family. On occasion, Hugh and I engage in some good-natured competition to see who can decorate the best cookie. I'm not sure if we will do that again this year but, if we do; I'm confident that I will win.

Possibly by cheating.